The jail sentences of journalist Shafik Rehman and expatriate businessman Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, convicted in a case over a plot to abduct and murder of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, have been suspended for one year.
Their lawyer Syed Zainal Abedin Mejbah confirmed the matter on Sunday (September 29).
He said that Mohammad Abu Sayed Molla, deputy secretary of the Protection Service Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued the order in the light of an opinion from the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Following the appeal for deferral of the punishment of Shafik and Mizanur on the case at Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court No. 2, the sentence for the case filed with Paltan Model Police Station was deferred for a year under Section 401 (1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, based on the opinion from the Ministry of Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs provided the accused surrender to the court, the order said.
On Aug 3, 2015, a police officer filed a case against Shafik Rehman with the Paltan Police Station and he was arrested on April 16, 2016 in the case. Later, he was released on bail and left the country for the United Kingdom.
Shafik returned home on Aug 18 this year after living in the UK for six years. He was admitted to the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital after 24 days.
The journalist is receiving treatment under Prof Shameem Ahmed.
